PRACTICE IN AN RV?

[Michael Bush]

I travel about ten or twelve days a month for work. This is how I manage:

http://www.wessex-tubas.com/bubbie-tuba/

http://www.mackbrass.com/Micro_Travel_Tuba_in_F.php

A McLean bass trombone mute keeps it both quiet and in tune. Wessex also has their own mute, but I haven't tried it.




(I know, I know, here we go again with another monster thread on the horror of Chinese tubas... )

[ppalan]

Check out this link:
http://www.wessex-tubas.co.uk/products/tenor-tuba

It's also available through the US site:
http://www.wessex-tubas.com/tenor-tuba/
I don't know about mutes for it and I've never played one of these but it might work for your purposes.
Pete

[elihellsten]

Says pitched same as a French Tuba - that is a step above a euphonium, correct?

Yes. I'd rather get a euphonium if I were you.

[MrBasseyPants]

Thats kinda what I am thinking but it may not hurt to take a summer break either

Well, if your RVing is taking you out west, then you may not have any desire to pick up your tuba for a while! There is so much to see!

I'd also recommend that not having a tuba with you is one less thing to worry about getting stolen or damaged.

If you have never been RVing before (or out to the west), I might encourage you to NOT take an RV (granted I have never RV'ed myself). A smaller rental car and a tent would be much cheaper and easier to get around places in...and if weather or wildlife freaks you out....get a small SUV so you can duck inside for a night If you plan on doing any kind of hiking (especially overnight backpacking), leaving an expensive instrument in an RV parked and unattended in a place that may not be well traveled would take my concentration off of my enjoyment of my travel.


OK.....back on topic... I did tavel with a Bubbie to New York in December...if I HAD to travel with a horn, I'd take that. Then again I never really practice...so I probably wouldn't be taking a horn anyway

jc

[MrBasseyPants]

A smaller rental car and a tent would be much cheaper and easier to get around places in...

No, you don't understand - 40' motorhome is the only way I care to travel! lol - and we will be going up to Mt. Cheaha in Ala. It is cool and quiet. In July it almost never gets above 80 and you have to wear a jacket at night.

OK....that works.. I have just seen way too many people go out west with an RV....and not be able to drive on some of the best roads!

jc

[ppalan]

Hi,
It is supposed to come with an extra slide to pitch it in Bb. Again, I have no interest in this but it may work for you.
Pete

[MrBasseyPants]

Hi,
It is supposed to come with an extra slide to pitch it in Bb. Again, I have no interest in this but it may work for you.
Pete

But, wouldn't that make it a euphonium of sorts?

....yup

[circusboy]

I lived in an RV for nearly three years (yep, with the circus). I bought a small Miraphone F to have with me a something that didn't take up too much room. I kept it in its gig bag and used bungee cords to strap the whole thing into the couch (hooking onto the bars between the cushions that become a fold-out bed).

This worked great for me--no damage whatsoever to the horn.

[David Richoux]

I travel about ten or twelve days a month for work. This is how I manage:

http://www.wessex-tubas.com/bubbie-tuba/

http://www.mackbrass.com/Micro_Travel_Tuba_in_F.php

A McLean bass trombone mute keeps it both quiet and in tune. Wessex also has their own mute, but I haven't tried it.

(I know, I know, here we go again with another monster thread on the horror of Chinese tubas... )

I just got one from Mack (with Eb crook) and it is well made. It blows good (for what it is) and I like it!
I think we should call this class of instrument a "Pocket Tuba." Easier to spell than "Tornister/Tübchen" and less cute than "Bubbie."

Has anyone bought the Wessex gig bag for the horn? Is it worth the price?

[Michael Bush]

I just got one from Mack (with Eb crook) and it is well made. It blows good (for what it is) and I like it!
I think we should call this class of instrument a "Pocket Tuba." Easier to spell than "Tornister/Tübchen" and less cute than "Bubbie."

Has anyone bought the Wessex gig bag for the horn? Is it worth the price?

I agree. I think there's a cultural difference visible here between England and America. I can't bring myself to write "Bubbie" without scare quotes. It just seems frivolous to me. If the instrument is actually intended to be a spoof, like something you'd buy in a joke shop, then fine, give it a name like that. If you think it's seriously useful then it needs a name that isn't foolish. I've tried to figure out if I can get the "Bubbie" etching wiped off my horn without scarring it. No luck so far. No big deal really, since I'm the only one who ever sees it. But I guess the whole thing is seen in a totally different light in England.

As to the gig bag, I asked Jonathan about it some time back. It wasn't available in the US then. When and if one is, I'll be in line to buy it.

[JCalkin]

Before I got a "Bubbie" Tuba this December, we had been calling my Great Dane's stuffed inside-the-house toy ball "Bubbie." Now if I'm referring to the tuba he gets all excited. I've gone to simply calling it "The Travel Tuba."

[Michael Bush]

I've gone to simply calling it "The Travel Tuba."

Me too. That's what I've always called it.

To the OP, I would say what someone here said to me when I was trying to decide about the travel tuba: It turns out that there is a lot of overlap between F and BBb fingerings. That's not to say that in every way playing an F is the same as playing a BBb. Obviously it is a totally different experience and set of skills. But there are two things about that. One is that the mouthpiece is not far from the same size, so even if you just play scales and lip slurs, it helps you stay in shape. The other is that it can help you move toward actually playing the F tuba. I've gone to playing some simple etudes and things. In a few months I will buy a full size F for quintet and personal enjoyment, and that wouldn't be on the agenda if I hadn't started working with this little horn on the road.

[MrBasseyPants]

Before I got a "Bubbie" Tuba this December, we had been calling my Great Dane's stuffed inside-the-house toy ball "Bubbie." Now if I'm referring to the tuba he gets all excited. I've gone to simply calling it "The Travel Tuba."

When I had mine at Tube Christmas in NYC in December, I referred to it on more than one occasion as a "pocket tuba."

jc

[David Richoux]

Has anyone bought the Wessex gig bag for the horn? Is it worth the price?

As to the gig bag, I asked Jonathan about it some time back. It wasn't available in the US then. When and if one is, I'll be in line to buy it.

I talked to Donna at Altieri - they have not made one yet, but she says a similar Tenor Horn bag would go for $190 US. She needs as many dimensions as possible and some photos to make a gig bag. I will give her what I can and get back to you all when they have a quote.

[MikeW]

If you practice inside an RV you have the low roof to contend with (personally, I hate low clearances, they make the sound so stuffy). Maybe a bell-front tuba would help ?

The alternative is playing outside; I wonder what the wild life will make of it ? Seriously, I have seen U-tube vids of cows coming to investigate music and accordions, and I once heard Stompin' Tom Connors perform a poem about cows and Jimi Hendrix - would it work the same way for bears and moose ?

[rperrym]

I am considering trying out one of the "Mini Travel Tubas", and was wondering if anyone that bought one also bought the optional Eb slide? If so, how did that work for you and if not, what went into your decision to not go with the extra slide. I do not have an F tuba, just two BBb tubas so I am not sure which would be best. I only plan on using it when we are traveling.
Thanks for your help,
Rick

[David Richoux]

I am considering trying out one of the "Mini Travel Tubas", and was wondering if anyone that bought one also bought the optional Eb slide? If so, how did that work for you and if not, what went into your decision to not go with the extra slide. I do not have an F tuba, just two BBb tubas so I am not sure which would be best. I only plan on using it when we are traveling.
Thanks for your help,
Rick

I recently got one with both slides - since I am most familiar with BBb but also play some Eb (tuba and alto horn) I figured it would be easier to switch back and forth. It is, but I also have used the horn in F a few times in one semi-improv band (not playing from written music) and it works for me after a period for brain/finger adjustment.

The horn seems to be very well made as far as I can see - I have not done a valve alignment check (can't see directly in to most of the ports.) The new case seems bigger than it could be, but it is well made. I suppose I will be getting a gig bag to solve that problem.

Water buildup is a bit of a problem in both pitches - there are a lot of bends and long thin diameter pipes for condensation to hide in. There is just one drain valve on the main tuning slide(s) but I don't know where another drain could be placed to deal with the random buildup.

[Michael Bush]

Water buildup is a bit of a problem in both pitches - there are a lot of bends and long thin diameter pipes for condensation to hide in. There is just one drain valve on the main tuning slide(s) but I don't know where another drain could be placed to deal with the random buildup.

At some point I'm going to have the mother of all crud build-ups in there somewhere because of this. I do not know where the water accumulates, but one turn of the "King Spin" makes the gurgling stop.

[Alex F]

The Hornstash in Palatine IL (Chicago suburb) has a used Weril J680 3/4 BBb for sale right now. You might want to check that one out. For some reason, these horns have become very scarce of late.